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STATE HYGIENIC LABORATORY.

As stated in a previous issue of the Bulletin, the laboratory is prepared to do work for health officers in districts not having access to laboratory facilities. Containers suitable for collecting sputum, blood from suspected typhoid cases, and material from suspected diphtheritic patients, and ice chests provided with a sterilized container for collecting samples of water suspected of being polluted by sewage, will be sent upon application. Directions for the collection of material and shipment will accompany each container. The value of results of the work in the laboratory is directly dependent upon the care with which the directions are followed in collecting and shipping the pathological material.

In addition to work upon material from suspected cases of diseases in man enumerated above, the laboratory is prepared to make examinations for county or municipal veterinarians who do not have access to local laboratories.

At present the laboratory can only, as a general practice, undertake examinations of material from suspected cases of certain animal diseases, under the conditions stated below. Correspondence is highly desirable before other material is submitted.

Anthrax. A suitable container, with directions for use, will be sent on application. In cases when the container is not at hand, an ear of the dead animal may be sent. Cut it off close to the head, place it in a Mason fruit-jar, which in turn should be packed in a box with sawdust.

Tuberculosis.-Occasions for examination of material from the diseases in cattle will arise but rarely. Circumstances sometimes make desirable a positive diagnosis by bacteriological examination of lesions. Material should be selected with a view of representing a broad variety of lesions. It may be placed in a tin can with a tight cover. This, in turn, should be packed in a box of ice and sawdust, for shipment by express.

Actinomycosis. A mailing case, suitable for transporting pus from the tumor, will be sent on application. In the absence of this, pus may be shipped by express in a tightly corked bottle.

Express charges must in all cases be prepaid, as the laboratory has no appropriation for this purpose.

A. R. WARD,

Director State Hygienic Laboratory.

ON THE OCCURRENCE OF HYDROCYANIC ACID IN JOHNSON-GRASS.

On the 26th of July last, word was received at the University of California that cattle were dying at Los Banos. Owing to the nature of the symptoms it was decided to make a chemical analysis of Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense), which appeared to be the cause of the deaths. The result of the chemical analyses showed most conclusively that the grass contained hydrocyanic acid in appreciable quantities. A request was then made to the owner of the cattle for another specimen of the Johnson-grass, and also of one of a rank-growing grass at the same stage of growth as the Johnson-grass, but which did not kill

the cattle. Upon the receipt of the specimens at the laboratory, chemical examinations were made, with the result that hydrocyanic acid was found in the fresh Johnson-grass to the extent of five hundredths of one per cent; and to be entirely absent from the other specimen-barnyardgrass (Panicum crus-galli). This is the first time in California (to our knowledge) that hydrocyanic acid has been found in Johnson-grass.

In Bulletin No. 77, issued in January, 1903, by the Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of Nebraska, are given the results of a similar investigation made there with reference to common sorghum and kaffir corn, both of which are relatives of the Johnson-grass. The following paragraph, referring to antidotes, is taken from the bulletin in question:

"Prussic acid has a tendency to unite with certain carbohydrates, forming additional products. These compounds are much less poisonous than the free acid. Both glucose and milk sugar unite with prussic acid to some extent even in dilute solutions. Aside from this action, these carbohydrates retard the action of enzym in liberating prussic acid. These facts suggest that, in case the animal is not in such a condition as to render medical treatment out of the question, the following may be effective: A strong solution of glucose, which nearly every farmer has on hand in the form of 'corn syrup' or molasses, may be administered. Large quantities of milk have in a number of instances been administered, apparently with good effect. In all cases the animal should have as much fresh air as possible."

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As previously pointed out in last month's Bulletin, the labels of these so-called evaporated creams are entirely at variance with their food values. To say the least, they are misleading to the laity.

FOOD LABORATORY, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.

M. E. JAFFA.

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MARTIN REGENSBURGER. M.D., President,
San Francisco
WALLACE A. BRIGGS, M.D., Vice-President,

F. K. AINSWORTH, M.D.
A. C. HART, M.D.

O. STANSBURY, M.D..
Sacramento W. LE MOYNE WILLS, M.D.
N. K. FOSTER, M.D., Secretary- Sacramento
HON. W. I. FOLEY, Attorney..

STATE BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS.

San Francisco
Sacramento
Chico
..Los Angeles

Los Angeles

N. K. FOSTER, M.D., State Registrar..Sacramento | GEORGE D. LESLIE, Statistician.....

Sacramento

STATE HYGIENIC LABORATORY.

University of California, Berkeley

ARCHIBALD R. WARD, D.V.M., Director.

VITAL STATISTICS FOR AUGUST.

Summary.-A total of 1,134 living births were reported for August from forty-five counties, including fourteen freeholders' charter cities. There were 11 sets of twins, and 10 children were at least the tenth born to their respective mothers.

Altogether 1,067 marriages were reported for August from forty counties. In 809 cases, or 75.8 per cent of all, the marriage performed was the first for each party, both groom and bride being single. In 110 instances it was the first marriage of the groom, but not of the bride, and in 76 it was the first of the bride but not of the groom, while in 72 cases, or 6.8 per cent of all, both parties had been married before. Somewhat more grooms than brides had not been previously married, 86.1 per cent of the grooms, against 82.9 per cent of the brides, being single. A total of 1,844 deaths, exclusive of stillbirths not tabulated, were reported for August from forty-nine of the fifty-seven counties in the State, including seventy-three cities and incorporated towns. Reports that no deaths occurred in the month were received from one County and twelve City or Town Registrars. The principal causes of death were general diseases (especially other than epidemic diseases), diseases of the circulatory system, of the nervous system, and violence. About one death in seven was due to tuberculosis, though many such decedents were only recent residents of the State. The next most important specific causes of death in August were heart disease, cancer, apoplexy, and pneumonia.

Causes of Death. The table below shows the number of deaths from the main classes of diseases reported for California in August and July

respectively. For convenience in comparison, the proportion of deaths from each class per 10,000 from all causes is also shown for both months:

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Most of the deaths each month were caused by general diseases other than epidemic diseases, this class including tuberculosis and cancer. Next in order of importance as causes of death are diseases of the circulatory system, of the nervous system, and violence. Following these come diseases of the digestive system, of the respiratory system, and of the genito-urinary system.

The following table gives for August the number of deaths from the leading specific diseases, as well as the proportion per 10,000 from all

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About one death in seven was due to tuberculosis, and one in eleven to heart disease. One in sixteen was caused by cancer, one in twenty by apoplexy or pneumonia, and one in twenty-five by old age, Bright's disease, or diarrhea and enteritis.

SYNOPSIS OF REGISTRATION LAW.

The main points of interest to the general public in the present law for the registration of vital statistics in California may be summarized as follows:

The County Recorder is the sole Local Registrar for marriages. The Local Registrar of births is the City Health Officer in the few cities having freeholders' charters, and the County Recorder everywhere else.

For deaths, the Local Registrar in cities having freeholders' charters is the City Health Officer; in other cities and incorporated towns, the City or Town Clerk, and for the remainder of each county, the County Recorder. When public convenience requires, the County Recorder as Local Registrar may, with the approval of the State Registrar, appoint Subregistrars for designated portions of the county. Registrars are required to furnish without charge a sufficient number of copies of the proper certificate to each person upon whom is imposed the duty of certifying to a birth, marriage, or death. The chief duty of each Local Registrar and Subregistrar, however, is to enforce the vital-statistics. law in his registration district.

The law applies particularly to clergymen, physicians, and undertakers. Every priest, minister of the gospel, justice, or judge who performs a marriage in this State, must within three days after the ceremony file with the County Recorder as Local Registrar a certificate properly filled out for the marriage performed by him.

Every physician, midwife, nurse, or other person assisting at a birth in California, must within five days thereafter file a certificate of birth with the Local Registrar, who is the County Recorder, except in the few cities having freeholders' charters, where the City Health Officer so acts. In case the child is not named when the certificate is filed, the Local Registrar will deliver to the person reporting the birth a supplemental blank for report of the given name, which must be filled out by the parents, next of kin, physician, or midwife, and returned as soon as the child shall be named, the name being then added by the Local Registrar to the certificate previously filed with him.

Every undertaker engaged for a funeral is held responsible for obtaining and filing a certificate of death with the Local Registrar or Subregistrar, and securing a burial or removal permit prior to any disposition of the body. The Local Registrar for deaths is the City Health Officer in cities having freeholders' charters, the City or Town Clerk in other cities and incorporated towns, and the County Recorder for the remainder of each county, while Subregistrars may also be appointed for designated portions of counties. Ordinarily the undertaker will obtain the personal and statistical particulars required over the signature (or name) and address of a relative or friend of the deceased, though the information may be given by any person, including the undertaker or physician, qualified to supply the facts. Besides the personal and statistical particulars, there is also the medical certificate of death, under which heading the physician certifies to the length of time the deceased received medical attendance, and also to the date and cause of death, including both the primary and immediate and the contributory causes, if any, and the duration of each. Special information is also required for hospitals, institutions, transients or recent residents. In all cases where death occurs away from the former or usual residence, that residence must be given, together with the length of time at the place of death, and a statement of where the disease was contracted.

It is a misdemeanor for the State Registrar or for any clergyman, physician, undertaker, or other person, to fail, neglect, or refuse to perform any of the duties imposed upon him under the law for the registration of births, marriages, and deaths. It is also a misdemeanor for any Local Registrar, Deputy Registrar, or Subregistrar to neglect or

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